tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post1924438372447797623..comments2017-12-13T20:47:32.016-05:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: WEDNESDAY, Jun. 18, 2008 - Adam Fromm (LA GIOCONDA, FAMILIARLY)Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45530814974486009002008-06-18T23:57:00.000-04:002008-06-18T23:57:00.000-04:00"Hone in on" and "flush out an idea" are called eg..."Hone in on" and "flush out an idea" are called eggcorns.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26041629762805834732008-06-18T22:42:00.000-04:002008-06-18T22:42:00.000-04:00Interesting re the history of "home in on" vs. "ho...Interesting re the history of "home in on" vs. "hone in on". But at least this confusion/conversion is not only understandable in terms of sound but also meaning. The one I find mystifying is when people say "flush out an idea" when they mean "flesh out an idea". It's like you have a single idea hiding in the recesses of your brain and you need to do something of flush it out...foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1495309523999157342008-06-18T20:44:00.000-04:002008-06-18T20:44:00.000-04:00The information about hone in onand home in on was...The information about hone in on<BR/>and home in on was fascinating. I <BR/>had no idea! I thought for sure it was hone in on though i doubted the puzzle could be wrong.<BR/><BR/>This comment blog is very fun!<BR/><BR/>I LOVE REX!gingernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28328770858668902912008-06-18T20:13:00.000-04:002008-06-18T20:13:00.000-04:00The wolf that drools could also be the same who wo...The wolf that drools could also be the same who wolf-whistles, which is why I find the Clue works.Fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54790787270146098072008-06-18T19:59:00.000-04:002008-06-18T19:59:00.000-04:00Michael: Try "The NYT Weekend Challenge" which ha...Michael: Try "The NYT Weekend Challenge" which has 75 Thurs./Fri./Sat. puzzles from 1997. I got it through Amazon. If you'd like a little text with your puzzles try "Crosswords to Keep Your Brain Young: The 6-Step Age-Defying Program" by Majid Fotuhi. It has a foreword by Will and 120 puzzles the vast majority of which seem to be weekenders. Many of them have accompanying vocabulary notes. This book came out in Jan. 08 and should be available from your book store.jaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385568014046336373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-28039043866930050952008-06-18T19:26:00.000-04:002008-06-18T19:26:00.000-04:00@ceosscabThanks for the reference to the Holiday S...@ceosscab<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the reference to the Holiday Shopping Guide. I think my best bet would be the New York Sun puzzle collections. I never see New York Sun Puzzles even when I visit New York City (which I do at least twice every year because I have family there).Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9081398157209536952008-06-18T19:10:00.000-04:002008-06-18T19:10:00.000-04:00Michael: Click on the 2007 Holiday Shopping Guide ...Michael: Click on the 2007 Holiday Shopping Guide link on the right hand side for some suggestions.Crosscannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-34351843405689365872008-06-18T18:56:00.000-04:002008-06-18T18:56:00.000-04:00What follows is puzzle-related, but not about toda...What follows is puzzle-related, but not about today's ok, though, unremarkable puzzle.<BR/><BR/>I am about to take a two week trip out of the country in which I will be away from the NYT and the puzzle for all practical purposes. I wanted to take with me a book of Friday-Saturday level puzzles and remember doing this last year when I made the same trip for the same period of time. But I went to the terrific independent bookstore in Iowa City (here's a plug for Prairie Lights!) and couldn't find any such book (though there were lots of mixed collections and easy puzzle collections). I ended up buying Orange's book on how to sove the puzzles out of curiosity about what she would say and (not incidentally) a sufficient number of Friday/Saturday puzzles to occupy me in airports, etc. <BR/><BR/>My question is -- can any of you point me to a good book (preferably paperback, preferably not too large) of Friday/Saturday puzzles for next time?<BR/><BR/>Of course, one problem is that I am now doing the NYT Friday/Saturday puzzles regularly so collections of recent puzzles from the NYt might not be so good for my purposes.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-4952324042206096272008-06-18T18:13:00.000-04:002008-06-18T18:13:00.000-04:00Can't believe you didn't know who Bob and Ray were...Can't believe you didn't know who Bob and Ray were. Surely you know of Bob's son Chris Elliot who has been all over TV at various times. You should check out some of their work when you want a laugh.Berrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1557777365870974152008-06-18T17:17:00.000-04:002008-06-18T17:17:00.000-04:00If tempted to say "hone in on" rather than "home,"...If tempted to say "hone in on" rather than "home," maybe try thinking of homing pigeons zeroing in on their destination. Now "zeroing" looks wrong. Eh.<BR/><BR/>That's funny Rex, I got an image of a Roc swooping down to catch Enya and carry her away. And eat her. Not with Chianti though; it's too heavy. I'm thinking a Syrah or something. Open to suggestions. Must be light, airy, with a vaguely unnecessary mouthfeel and a self-serious nose. Hints of ugli fruit.green mantishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01823785147354157816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72641245716175230582008-06-18T17:03:00.000-04:002008-06-18T17:03:00.000-04:00ETA-Conversely, as I said above, when I think of "...ETA-<BR/><BR/>Conversely, as I said above, when I think of "Pavlov's dogs", the first thing that comes to my mind is that the fact that these dogs DROOLed in response to the sound of bell (this was, in fact, the whole point of Pavlov's experiment).<BR/><BR/>-ronathanronathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75007292005983102712008-06-18T17:01:00.000-04:002008-06-18T17:01:00.000-04:00@ca davidI guess my objection to "What hungry wolv...@ca david<BR/><BR/>I guess my objection to "What hungry wolves do" is that phrasing implies that the ONLY thing that hungry wolves do is drool. In my mind, hungry wolves also howl, snarl, bite, bark, etc. They also hunt.<BR/><BR/>If the clue had simply been worded as "Something hungry wolves do", I would have been okay with it (although admittedly the words snarl, howl, and bite come to my mind WAY before the word drool does when I mentally picture hungry wolves).<BR/><BR/>-ronathan :-)ronathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84011396830976581702008-06-18T16:41:00.001-04:002008-06-18T16:41:00.001-04:00Jenga doesn't require nimble fingers so much as a ...Jenga doesn't require nimble fingers so much as a steady hand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-75411503785929039072008-06-18T16:41:00.000-04:002008-06-18T16:41:00.000-04:00@hobbyist & @ronathan - Don't understand your obj...@hobbyist & @ronathan - Don't understand your objections to the "drool" clue - what part of "what hungry wolves do" implies the answer must apply ONLY to wolves? <BR/><BR/>Didn't like the theme much, but REALLY didn't like another un-finishable puzzle (for me) due to the MAJA/JENGA proper-noun crossing. Guessed wrong.CA Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62835746169051291152008-06-18T16:36:00.000-04:002008-06-18T16:36:00.000-04:00Rex, I am GOBSMACKED that you did not know TONY fr...Rex, I am GOBSMACKED that you did not know TONY from West Side Story! I remember talking to someone from my office who I regard as well-informed, and when I started discussing Romeo and Juliette, she had no idea of the connection! I was double-dog gobsmacked. <BR/><BR/>Anywho, I think deep down I visit the blog to reassure myself that I am not a complete idiot, and am glad that some others had no idea what MINIM was. Crossing, could not for the life of me get HOME IN ON.<BR/><BR/>Found the theme doable but not all that fun(ny). I think a tie-up clue/answer, ("What the L?", "Unknown L-ement", others??) would have helped wrap it up more neatly.<BR/><BR/>ETTU and ENYA, have you seen my old frient ETUI lately? I have a feeling he will be coming around...<BR/><BR/>Brooklyntintinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-70624027397050545202008-06-18T16:25:00.000-04:002008-06-18T16:25:00.000-04:00Nice puzzle Mr. Fromm.Some sort of Soap thing goin...Nice puzzle Mr. Fromm.<BR/><BR/>Some sort of Soap thing going on in this puzzle : LAVA, IVORY, LUX and MAJA.Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07466240197659721721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57837612130471784782008-06-18T16:23:00.000-04:002008-06-18T16:23:00.000-04:00The phrase is "HOME IN ON" - though "HONE IN ON" i...The phrase is "HOME IN ON" - though "HONE IN ON" is a very common mistake.<BR/><BR/>Discussion <A HREF="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-hom1.htm" REL="nofollow">here</A>.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-18565329708332970792008-06-18T16:05:00.000-04:002008-06-18T16:05:00.000-04:00Anonymous...I agree with HONE IN ON as a phrase ev...Anonymous...I agree with HONE IN ON as a phrase even though it makes no sense. Must be a regional thing. <BR/><BR/>Gobsmacked! Has anyone ever heard this word before?<BR/><BR/>It was a Wednesday puzzle that felt like a Monday. And even though I, too, am of a certain age...I know BOBANDRAY because my dad used to talk about them when I was a kid.Shamikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11635283729322415150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-81382926423260588572008-06-18T15:58:00.000-04:002008-06-18T15:58:00.000-04:00@JTSTERN: Thanks. If it involved college and beer ...@JTSTERN: Thanks. If it involved college and beer no wonder I can't remember. <BR/><BR/>We all started like you. Keep doing puzzles and reading the blogs and the later week ones will come. Amy "Orange" Reynaldo's book "How to Conquer the New York Times Crossword Puzzle" is also a great help. <BR/><BR/>CrosscanCrosscannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-30412382905467188002008-06-18T14:59:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:59:00.000-04:00Velma homnely? you should see her without the swe...Velma homnely? you should see her without the sweater....<BR/><BR/>My wife and I are, compared to most of you Rex-ers, are crossword neophytes. We've progressed to the popint of finishing most Mondays on on our own and 90%of Tuesdays. Downhill form there of course.<BR/><BR/>To the first post of the day, Jenga is a balancing game wherein you first build a tower out of 1/2" by 1/2" by 3" pieces of wood lyaing them three one way, then three another about a foot high. there you taking turns pulling them out 'til someone fells the tower....<BR/><BR/>of course when yer in college, there is beer involved....JTSTERNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823161462514844287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61910266317596310622008-06-18T14:41:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:41:00.000-04:00Didn't anyone have a problem with HOME IN ON? Isn'...Didn't anyone have a problem with HOME IN ON? Isn't it HONE IN on or am I crazy? Well -- I AM crazy ... but I really thought it was Hone in On. Responses?<BR/><BR/>Sarah -- you will LOVE this website!<BR/><BR/>Rex -- How much money did you raise? I hope A LOT!<BR/><BR/>BestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-60240078935329877622008-06-18T14:23:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:23:00.000-04:00So many Ys today.So many Ys today.Fergushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-65374482677988595232008-06-18T14:21:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:21:00.000-04:00So many Ys today. Tess Durbeyfield shows up a goo...So many Ys today. <BR/><BR/>Tess Durbeyfield shows up a good deal, doesn't she?foodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-77026303704844873242008-06-18T14:13:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:13:00.000-04:00I liked today's puzzle and found it pretty easy. N...I liked today's puzzle and found it pretty easy. Never heard in minim but did listen to Bob ad Ray on the radio way back in my youth.<BR/><BR/>Going to a dinner party tonight to be held outside. Hope it doesnt rain. We will probably have fish soup, then Reubens followed by bon bons for dessert. Probably wont be any music so we wont be doing the macarena. I wont tell you what I am bringing - no recipes allowedchefbea1https://www.blogger.com/profile/15195945085405126511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85650848212156356472008-06-18T14:08:00.000-04:002008-06-18T14:08:00.000-04:00@jennifer (today's second commenter),Sorry I didn'...@jennifer (today's second commenter),<BR/><BR/>Sorry I didn't reply earlier. I know Emily's site very well. I link to it in my sidebar. She did the illustration on my donation thank-you cards (which are almost all out, those of you who haven't received one yet). I plan to work with her on future crossword-related projects. In short, she rules.<BR/><BR/>RPRex Parkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.com